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A few people have asked me about Labour Governments and covert action.
Here’s a v concise history.
TL;DR Labour did it too
1/8
Here’s a v concise history.
TL;DR Labour did it too
1/8
Attlee:
Cautious. Banned subversion behind Iron Curtain. Sanctioned op in Albania (not liberation). Sanctioned subversion in Iran, paving the way for 1953 coup
Check out: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Intelligence-security-Attlee-governments-1945-51/dp/0719099145
2/8
Cautious. Banned subversion behind Iron Curtain. Sanctioned op in Albania (not liberation). Sanctioned subversion in Iran, paving the way for 1953 coup
Check out: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Intelligence-security-Attlee-governments-1945-51/dp/0719099145
2/8
Wilson 1964:
- Inherited large scale ops in Yemen and Indonesia. Intensified both.
- Continued covert political action in Latin America.
- Covert action against Rhodesia.
-Expanded black propaganda project targeting Russia and China
3/8
- Inherited large scale ops in Yemen and Indonesia. Intensified both.
- Continued covert political action in Latin America.
- Covert action against Rhodesia.
-Expanded black propaganda project targeting Russia and China
3/8
Wilson 1974:
- Briefly continued inherited op against South Yemen. (And in Oman)
- Discussion of killing Idi Amin (rejected by MI6).
- Closed down covert propaganda in foreign office
4/8
- Briefly continued inherited op against South Yemen. (And in Oman)
- Discussion of killing Idi Amin (rejected by MI6).
- Closed down covert propaganda in foreign office
4/8
Callaghan:
Unclear. Seemed to sanction covert political action re Greece & EEC. Considered coup in pre-revolutionary Iran. Discussed covert op in Ethiopia
(files are sparse)
5/8
Unclear. Seemed to sanction covert political action re Greece & EEC. Considered coup in pre-revolutionary Iran. Discussed covert op in Ethiopia
(files are sparse)
5/8
Blair:
Considered coup (late 2001) to overthrow Saddam Hussein rather than invasion. + lots of SF
6/8
Considered coup (late 2001) to overthrow Saddam Hussein rather than invasion. + lots of SF
6/8
Brown:
increased covert/unattributable propaganda against terrorism
@IanCobain has written lots on this
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/how-book-cold-war-propaganda-inspired-british-counter-terror-campaign
7/8
increased covert/unattributable propaganda against terrorism
@IanCobain has written lots on this
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/how-book-cold-war-propaganda-inspired-british-counter-terror-campaign
7/8
Conclusion:
Covert action appeals to PMs from both parties. They see it as a means of maximising influence / protecting status quo at (perceived) minimal cost.
Covert action supposedly plugs a gap between U.K. capability and ambition.
8/8
Covert action appeals to PMs from both parties. They see it as a means of maximising influence / protecting status quo at (perceived) minimal cost.
Covert action supposedly plugs a gap between U.K. capability and ambition.
8/8
